Hype isn’t one of those handbag brands whose styles are easily recognizable to me. However, from what I’ve seen, it seems that they love to include at least one feature that’s interesting and a bit modern to their designs.

With that information in mind, it’s no surprise then that this Regina hobo is from Hype. Its soft, buttery leather is enough to make me take a second look, but the details are what make it truly unique.

The first thing to catch the eye is the relaxed folded front flap. The slouchy look goes right along with typical casual hobo style but adds a contemporary twist to the bag. I’m not sure how easy it would be to work with that front flap when you’re trying to get things in and out of the purse, but its a great aesthetic quality for the Regina.

There’s also a long leather tassel that hangs down from the flap. Again, it might not be anything but a decorative addition to the handbag, but at least it looks nice. Perhaps it helps to weigh down the flap as well, although that’s just a guess.

Other design features on this Hype bag include leather strips on the sides and a wrapped handle with buckles. With such a complicated opening on the top, this handbag could use a longer strap drop, in my opinion. However, that’s not something I expect to see from a hobo. This contemporary purse retails for $295.

More Features of the Regina Hobo

• Measures 16 x 12.5 x 5 inches
• Single handle with 6 inch drop
• Folded flap closure
• Tassel and buckle details

Get this Hype Hobo Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon (limited stock)
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Hype handbags on BagBunch
• The B. Makowsky Maui, a great alternative to this modern hobo
• Searching for more Hype bags on eBay
• More Hype hobos on eBay:

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This spacious tote from little known designer, Magid, shows how vintage straw can be combined with patent leather to great effect.

The deep black patent leather works as a contrasting trim to the surprisingly soft camel straw, effortlessly melding the traditional and the modern in one foul swoop. Whilst the handles are a little short for such a big tote, they do manage to continue the elegant theme in style, if not practicality.

Straw is generally a summer theme, great for traipsing to and from the beach, and transporting picnics from place to place. Their durability really holds them in good faith for all the holiday activities. With patent leather added, however, this bag manages to combine sophisticated with summer, giving the potential for more than one seasons worth of use. Whilst it isn’t quite classy enough for a night out, this Magid straw tote could actually look quirky and sophisticated in unexpected settings.

The interior of this bag does show the cheap workmanship, lined as it is with a dark fabric that never quite makes it to black. It is still roomy, however, with useful pockets both inside and out.

Despite the little flaws, this bag ins a new twist on a conventional straw tote theme, and a bargain at $45.

More Features of this Magid Contrasting Hold-all

• Wide solid straw base
• Exterior buckled large pocket
• Synthetic leather trim
• Interior pocket

Get this Sophisticated Straw Tote:

• Available to buy on Amazon (limited stock)
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• Other straw handbags on Bagbunch
• The Kathy van Zeeland Stripe Five tote, a great alternative to this vintage-style bag
• Searching for more Magid handbags on eBay
• Other straw handbags on eBay:

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Betsey Johnson gives us her take on the fabric tote, complete with her signature sass and spunk. It’s the Calender Girl, a purse which celebrates the flirty fun of being female.

The design is much like any other tote, with a boxy body and two curved handles. What makes it different is the little touches Betsey Johnson always brings. The front is emblazoned with a cute pin-up girl in the mould of vintage goddesses like Bettie Page or Brigitte Bardot. A wide fabric trim – either polka dot or leopard print – adds a further dose of fun.

Fabric totes are notoriously lacking in features, but this one gives us more than most. Rather than the open top we’re used to, there’s a magnetic snap. It’s not as ssecure as a zip, but this fastener should ensure your essentials stay safely inside. Any precious items have a home in the zippered pocket, which complements slip and cell phone pouches.

The Calendar Girl tote is a cute twist on the cotton tote. It’ll never be the most versatile purse, but it is ideal for casual trips to the market or pool. And for just $78, I don’t mind that I can’t carry it everywhere!

More Features of This Betsey Johnson Fabric Tote

• Interior fabric lining
• Two 20-inch PVC handles with an 8 inch drop
• Measures 17 x 2 x 16 inches

Get this Betsey Johnson Calendar Girl Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]Betseyville Betsey Johnson Calendar Girl tote, 2, “”, large[/phpbay]

• Check the 2 The 9’s in Gotham eBay store to see if this Betsey Johnson bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Betsey Johnson bags on BagBunch
• The large Calendar Girl bag, a great alternative to this medium bag.
• Searching for more Betsey Johnson bags on eBay

It looks like Escada may be the latest victim of the financial crisis. The German fashion brand appears to be on shaky ground, with chairman Bruno Saelzer admitting he’s spoken with insolvency experts.

The company is thought to have enough liquidity to last until August, but not beyond that. Mr. Saelzer will pitch a debt restructuring plan to his creditors, but 80 percent of them must approve it by the end of the month. On Monday only 37 percent of creditors had accepted the offer, so the clock is certainly ticking.

If this last ditch attempt fails, it seems certain that Escada will cease trading as Mr. Saelzer says “98 of the 99 possible measures” to save the company have been exhausted. Even if it is successful, I wonder just how much time it will buy the fashion brand.

Escada has been a fixture on the fashion circuit since its establishment in the late 1970s, and its loss will be felt across the industry. Saving it seems like a long shot, but I’m crossing my fingers.

[Source: Luxist]
[Image Source: Brian Taipei/Flickr]

Escada Handbags on eBay

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Balenciaga has wooed starlets like Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan with its contemporary handbags. Their purses are casual, yet always embody uptown chic. But the brand takes things down a notch with its Arena Giant Rope Duffel Bag.

The glazed electric blue leather is every inch as sophisticated as we’d expect from the Italian fashion house. The finish has a subtle gloss, without being quite as flashy as a patent. Honestly, when you’re carrying an electric blue bag you don’t need any more flash. A smattering of studs and side buckles add just enough edge, without overwhelming this simplistic design.

The large and luxurious body is what we’d expect from Balenciaga, but at the top the brand takes a left turn. A rope strap threads through silver hoops at the top of the bag. Really Balenciaga? Rope? The thick plaited strap looks far too relaxed for that lovely leather body. The rope gathers up the leather too, making it appear more like a casual drawstring purse than a high-end fashion accessory.

The problem is the Arena still has the high-end price tag. For $1295, I expect a purse with a little more sophistication than this.

More Features of This Balenciaga Duffel Bag

• A zippered pocket on front
• Fabric lined interior
• An internal zip pocket
• Measures 17 x 17.5 x 10.5 inches

Get this Balenciaga Arena Giant Rope Handbag:

• Check the Trenduet Boutique eBay store to see if this Balenciaga bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Balenciaga bags on BagBunch
• The Maxx New York Monte Carlo bag, a great alternative to this electric blue bag.
• Searching for more Balenciaga bags on eBay
• Other Balenciaga Arena bags on eBay(see listings below):

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Get ready, folks. A new collection of crazy expensive luxury handbags are scheduled to hit runways and stores sometime in the future.

Long-established but recently rejuvenated label Balmain is stepping into the wide world of accessories with a new venture involving handbags. Past collections from the infamously pricey ready-to-wear brand have included $3,000 t-shirts and $22,000 dresses. One can only guess the sort of price range their handbags will have.

So far, rumor has it that the label has given a few Paris retailers a sneak peek of pre-collections that include leather bags clustered with studs and crystals. This sounds fairly consistent with Balmain’s tough-luxe image.

I think we can safely assume that these new handbags will carry with them price tags with more than a couple of zeros on them.  It seems like a strange time for a fashion brand to delve into overpriced accessories, but maybe Balmain knows something about the economy that we don’t.

[Source: WWD]
[Image: feelitmorethanever/Flickr]

Crystal Studded Handbags on eBay

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The SAK’s Eco Harmony line of bags has tons of options from cross-body bags to hobos and shoppers. This environmentally-friendly collection is made from bamboo yarn that has been crocheted and dyed with non-toxic pigments.

The newest addition to the bunch is this Eco Harmony Backpack. Continuing in the “green” fashion of the line, this rucksack style tote is made from eco-friendly material and even lined in recycled cotton.

I really don’t know how practical this backpack would be since crocheted material tends to be super slouchy and unstructured. It’s full of bohemian style, which will please plenty of shoppers, but might not be the sturdiest of totes for carrying around heavy textbooks.

Its simple drawstring closure adds to its slightly impractical nature, at least as far as backpacks go, since most others have zippers or buckles to keep everything in safely. However, the Eco Harmony backpack is ideal for market days, day trips, and other easy outings. It’s perfect for when you have a few light things to carry but need to keep your hands free.

The price is just right, too, for a casual tote. This crocheted backpack from The SAK retails for $79.

More Features of the Eco Harmony Backpack

• Measures 13 x 15.5 x 7.5 inches
• Double straps
• Drawstring top

Get this The SAK Backpack:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More bags from The SAK on BagBunch
• The Eco Harmony Shoper, a great alternative to this backpack
• Searching for more The SAK bags on eBay
• Other The SAK backpacks on eBay:

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Grab this Fossil Hanover Bag and you’re out the door with everything you need for errands or a shopping trip. A great little everyday cross body tote, the bag is styled in the tradition of Kenneth Cole Reaction to make for a chic basic.

The brand known for their watches is delving more into fashion handbags and seems to be trying to capture more than their usual youth market with this selection.

The exposed zipper and leather tassel on the front pocket as well as the silver-tone key fob dangling from the O-ring fastening the strap to the bag add to the clean, chic appeal.

In addition to the front zip pocket, there’s also a front flap pocket, annd inside a zip pocket and two open pockets so your money, phone and everything will be organized. That’s key for a smaller bag like this meant to carry a lot in a compact space. A top zip closure keeps everything secure.

Unfortunately, in a bag this slim, a larger wallet or a water bottle or anything clunky like that will make the bag look lumpy, ruining its clean aesthetic, so if you like to carry a lot of stuff, this probably isn’t for you.

More Features Of the Fossil Hanover Bag

• Measures 10 x 11 x 2 inches
• Strap drop 21 inches

Get The Fossil Hanover Bag

• Available to purchase at Macy’s
• Search online for this bag

You May Also Be Interested In

• More cross body bags on BagBunch
• The Marc by Marc Jacobs Mag Bag, a great alternative to this bag.
• Search for more cross body bags on eBay
• Other Fossil handbags on eBay:

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“Envelope clutch” has been a buzzword on every handbag guru’s lips this spring, and the trend of simple fold-over purses doesn’t look like running out of steam any time soon.

This Jessica Jensen purse takes the envelope concept and endeavors to make the idea even more literal. If you were just glancing at this minimalist purse, you could be forgiven for mistaking it for a real envelope!

At first look this simple and unobtrusive style does seem to work, offering easy coordination and accessorizing perfect for toning down complex evening dresses. After a while, however, I feel the design would lose its novelty, and something with a bit more oomph would be preferable. Perhaps a contrasting trim or novelty stitching would have helped with this clutch’s longevity.

Whilst limited a little by its lack of a handle option, this clean and sleek clutch is saved somewhat by the outstanding quality of the materials: soft calf-leather where the only embellishment is the decadence of the mottled surface. You won’t fit much in, but at least it comes in enough gentle colors to mean you can have a different version for every dress!

More Features of this Jessica Jensen Envelope Clutch

• Available in 10 subtle colors
• Crocodile textured
• Magnetic clasp closure
• Pig suede luxury interior

Get this Simple Cubist Purse:

• Available to buy on Amazon
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• Other envelope purses on Bagbunch
• The Sondra Roberts Los Cabos Clutch, a practical alternative to this evening clutch
• Searching for more calfskin bags on eBay
• Other evenlope handbags on eBay:

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Baggallini has made its name by putting functionality first. Their purses may never attract celebrity fans or longing gazes, but they’re some of the most practical around.

The design is simple, without buckles or bows to add any aesthetic appeal. The only real individuality comes from the color you choose, and there are plenty of those. Much of the Baggallini range is unisex, and frankly a little drab, with shades like mushroom, pewter, and dark olive. But there are some sunnier options, including tomato, leaf green, and steel blue.

But really, if you’re looking for Baggallini you’re much more interested in substance than style. It’s the lightweight and waterproof crinkle nylon that draws you in, and the convertible strap which takes the Downtown from backpack to sling bag. With your no-fuss lifestyle you don’t want to worry about spills or stains either, so it’s nice to know you can hand wash this bag with a mild detergent or ordinary dish soap.

Then there’s the interior, which offers much more than a couple of token pockets. A cell phone pouch, key fob, and detachable ID/coin purse are some of the handy features. They complement the large side pockets, which can keep your PDA and digital camera at your fingertips. There’s another gusseted pocket up front, which even has built in credit card slots. They’re all secure of course, with zippers ensuring your goodies stay put. The hardest part might be finding your essentials once you’ve packed them away!

The $89.95 retail value won’t buy high-end designer style, but it will buy the sort of practicality girls on the go appreciate.

More Features of This Baggallini Crinkle Nylon Purse

• An outside snap closure pocket with leather trim
• Measures 12 x 3.5 x 11 inches
• Weighs 1 pound
• Imported

Get this Baggallini Downtown Handbag:

• Available to buy at Amazon
• Available to buy on eBay (see listings below):

[phpbay]Baggallini Downtown, 2, “”, “”[/phpbay]

• Check the Kelly’s Fun Treasures for Kids eBay store to see if this Baggallini bag is in stock
• Search online for this bag

You may also be interested in:

• More Baggallini bags on BagBunch
• The Baggallini Urban bag, a great alternative to this convertible bag.
• Searching for more Baggallini bags on eBay